Who Owns Heritage Farms Chicken? Uncovering the Story Behind This Premium Poultry Brand

Heritage Farms chicken has become a staple brand in many households across North America. Its high-quality poultry products, focus on natural farming practices, and decades-long presence has earned it a reputation as a leading producer. But like many established food brands, there is an air of mystery around its ownership and origins.

In this article we will uncover the story behind Heritage Farms chicken and answer the pressing question – who owns this premium chicken brand?

A Commitment to Quality Chicken Since the Early Days

Heritage Farms has been around for a very long time. Their website states that the company traces its roots back to 1957 when farmers worked the land in the traditional way. During these early days, Heritage Farms centered its operations around the values of honesty, integrity, and hard work.

Over the decades as the lower mainland in Canada grew rapidly, Heritage Farms continued to expand as well. But one thing remained unchanged – their commitment to producing high-quality clean chicken raised through natural methods.

Heritage Farms has firmly established itself as a brand focused on simpler less processed chicken products. Their strategic focus on quality has allowed the company to flourish for over six decades.

The Important Role of Understanding Brand Ownership

When purchasing any branded food product, it is valuable for consumers to understand the company behind it. Who owns and operates the brand influences everything from the ingredient sourcing to the types of products manufactured.

For ethically-minded consumers, brand ownership provides insight into whether the values of a company align with their own principles. It also indicates the degree of care and attention placed on issues such as animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and community involvement.

Knowing the origins and ownership of a brand like Heritage Farms allows customers to make educated purchasing choices aligned with their preferences. This context turns an anonymous product into a deeply meaningful one.

Heritage Farms’ Current Status Within a Larger Company

So who does own Heritage Farms chicken? Here is the answer:

Heritage Farms is currently owned by Perdue Farms, one of the largest poultry producers in the United States. Perdue purchased Heritage Farms along with Hallmark Poultry in Canada back in 2014.

Despite the buyout, Heritage Farms continues to operate as an independent brand under the Perdue umbrella. It maintains its own identity and standards around responsible farming and animal care.

Perdue Farms was founded in 1920 and its purchase of Heritage Farms allowed the established Canadian brand to leverage greater resources for expansion. However, Heritage Farms still focuses predominantly on serving consumers in Canada with its products.

What Sets This Premium Brand Apart?

Now that we know Heritage Farms is owned by Perdue Farms, what exactly sets it apart from other poultry brands? Here are some of the key reasons why it stands out:

• Natural farming methods – Heritage Farms has a long-standing commitment to raising chickens naturally without antibiotics or added hormones. Their farmers focus on sustainability and responsible practices.

• Humane farming – Animal welfare is a top priority. Chickens are raised in low-stress environments with ample space for natural behaviors.

• Superior quality – State-of-the-art facilities and strict quality control lead to tender, juicy chicken with great texture and flavor.

• Range of products – Heritage Farms offers an array of retail and foodservice products including fresh and frozen chicken, as well as seasoned and marinated options.

• Local focus – The brand has a distinctly local, Canadian identity. Products are marketed as being proudly from the Fraser Valley.

Rigorous Quality Control for Superior Taste and Safety

Heritage Farms implements extremely stringent quality control measures to verify its products meet the highest standards for taste, texture, safety, and purity.

These are some of the steps taken to ensure quality chicken:

• Careful selection of breeding stock
• Thorough testing and vaccination of flocks
• Continuous audits of farms and facilities
• Controlled, all-vegetarian chicken feed
• Humane harvesting and processing protocols
• Stringent sanitation procedures during production
• Rigorous product sampling and testing

By monitoring each stage of the process, Heritage Farms guarantees every package of chicken delivered to customers is of the utmost quality.

Sustainability Through Natural Farming Practices

Heritage Farms has built its brand around a dedication to responsible and sustainable farming. Their focus on creating a low-stress life for chickens promotes health, welfare, and natural behaviors.

Specific sustainable farming practices include:

• Free-range environments with natural light and space
• Enriched housing with perches and pecking objects
• All-vegetarian diets with no animal by-products
• No added hormones or routine antibiotics
• Careful management of waste and emissions
• Conservation of resources like water and energy

These conscientious methods reduce the environmental impact of their operations. At the same time, the natural approach results in happier, healthier chickens.

Offering Consumers Choice with an Array of Products

While Heritage Farms is best known for premium fresh chicken, it actually offers a diverse range of poultry products including:

• Fresh chicken – Whole chickens, bone-in breasts, tenders, thighs, legs, wings, and more.

• Frozen chicken – Individually frozen cuts as well as full flash-frozen birds.

• Seasoned chicken – Fully cooked products like chicken burgers, strips, and boneless skinless breasts in unique marinades.

• Turkey – Whole turkeys, boneless breasts, roasts, cutlets, ground turkey, and sausages.

• Organic options – For consumers who prefer certified organic, Heritage Farms has a line of organic chicken.

This extensive selection of products provides options for every preference and recipe requirement while maintaining the brand’s premium quality reputation.

Heritage Farms Remains Committed to Quality and Sustainability

In the decades since it was founded, Heritage Farms has expanded tremendously yet remains dedicated to its core values around responsible farming, animal welfare, and producing high-caliber chicken. Although now owned by Perdue Farms, Heritage Farms continues to operate as a distinct brand serving consumers primarily in Canada.

With an array of products to choose from, transparent farming practices, and robust quality control procedures, Heritage Farms chicken has earned its reputation as a premium poultry product. Its commitment to sustainable practices also appeals to ethically-minded consumers.

The next time you reach for a package of Heritage Farms chicken, you can do so knowing it comes from a company with decades of history providing quality, locally-focused poultry products to Canadian households. So when you ask “who owns Heritage Farms chicken”, the answer is clear – this proudly Canadian premium chicken brand is owned by Perdue Farms.